Grants in Action – February 2017

Killam Elementary celebrates Koala mascot in “Art for the Sky”!

By Amy T. Hussey, M.Ed, Killam Visual Arts Specialist Teacher

All Fall, Killam students were preparing for the November event, when the entire school community came together to create a giant living Koala painting made of people!

In preparation, the students participated in lessons throughout the curriculum including research on threatened species.

The 3-day Art for the Sky residency program began with a kick-off assembly learning Daniel Dancer’s original “Sky Sight” song “Wings to Fly.”

Visit Killam’s Facebook page to see more pictures and videos!

Then off to the fields where the Killam community creates their living portrait! Artist Daniel Dancer is hoisted up in the bucket truck to capture the bird’s eye view!

“This whole experience has been very motivating for many- old and young alike.  Daniel’s message about taking different perspectives, collaborating, caring for each other and the planet truly couldn’t have happened at a better time.”

Check out the amazing video of the event!

Elementary Makerspace Robot Coding Kits being used for Hour of Code and More!

by Tracy Thrasher Hybl, Library Media Specialist Birch Meadow

This video, posted on the Killam Facebook page, was taken during the Killam Elementary’s Hour of Code features the coding robots purchased with a REF grant.

Killam’s 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes got to program our MIP and Dash robots during their library classes.

Access for All Elementary Library/Media Collection now in full use

by Krista Erikson and Melissa Davis

Each school now has the collection available to all students including ones with language
based learning challenges. Resources, including audio book kits and readers, dyslexia friendly books and low level-high interest books.

“I … encourage all of our staff and students to check books out from this collection.  I have also circulated the audio book players and audio books to many of our classrooms for teachers to use during read aloud time.” – Kim Adamo, Media Specialist at Killam Elementary School.

Core Value Literature Collection now available at each elementary school

by Lisa Norcross– Library Media Specialist, M.S., Assistant Principal Wood End 

“This is the “golden” book shelf we use to house this collection.  We painted the book shelf for this collection gold because we think that these books help teach our students how to follow “the golden rule”- to treat others the way we want to be treated.” – Kim Adamo, Media Specialist at Killam Elementary School